Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
7th March 2006
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CRITIC'S CORNER
Profile
22 Watches The Armstrongs - Episode 2
Back for a second week of ‘The Armstrongs’ and we
can only say things have gone from bad…to worse.
After another terrible month of sales (perhaps the buying cheap
selling cheap philosophy is running out of steam?) and John’s
reluctance to get on the phone, the dotty couple are struck
with an idea that just might get their business back on track
and inject some much-needed inspiration into the lifeless proprietor.
So, with a £10,000 a week shortfall, John and Ann decide
to make for continental Europe with the ambition of selling
‘DIY Conservatoires*’ (music academies) to French
builders via their new ‘Vous-Fit’ domain name.
More
Here:
Spectus
Window Systems
is unveiling a new rosewood colour option for its Vertical
Slider System, to satisfy demand for natural wood-effect finishes
with a prominent grain
More
Here:
Longevity
of solution is the key word for Comar
5 Pi Cladding adaptors. The adaptor allows the specifier the
design opportunity to incorporate windows into a façade
without the need for additional flashings
More
Here:
Duraflex
fabricator, A-Plas Windows Ltd,
has launched a Bi-Folding Door using PVC-U profile from the
Duraflex Diamond Suite
More
Here:
The
ContourGrid system from US and international manufacturer
GED Integrated Solutions
turns flat, pre-painted, coiled aluminium into custom punched,
formed, cut and shape-routed Georgian bar
More
Here:
Quality
Roofing Systems wants to help conservatory installers
by offering the Allure aluminium conservatory roof system
More
Here:
Elumatec's SBZ 630 has been designed to cut thick-walled aluminium profiles at high speeds and has a 7.5kW motor
More Here:
Comar
Architectural Aluminium Systems
has announced that Comar 5P.i. Tilt & Turn window passed
the enhanced security British Standard: BS 7950
More
Here:
Profile
22 Systems has introduced 'cost-saving' Safeware
Super Steel reinforcement
More
Here:
Jeffrey
Rioux of Saint-Gobain Crystals
presents a report on advances in the design and ballistic
performance of the company's Sapphire Transparent Armour System
More
Here:
Duraflex
has added a high performance composite door to complement
its popular PVC-U Diamond Suite
More
Here:
Trade
fabricator, Griffin Windows,
has recently upgraded its residential doors to offer installers
and consumers even more choice and greater benefits
More
Here:
Ultraframe’s
chambered top cappings have proved a big hit with installers
of the company’s Classic conservatory roofing system
More
Here:
Avocet
says that it has redefined the accepted parameters
for product style, quality and performance, in a new range
appropriately branded Pioneer
More
Here:
(300+ Listed Products)
Go Here:
For a directory of products sorted by product type
Go Here:
For a directory of products sorted by company in alphabetical order
Joinery
manufacturers of high quality sash windows,
A & W Gowers Ltd of Chelmsford, Essex is a
family concern with an excellent local reputation
More
Here:
Teeside
based Synseal fabricator
installer Budget Windows
has seen huge changes since the management buy out. After completing
the first year under new ownership the investment and changes
are paying off
More
Here:
When
Glenhampton Conservatories
was looking at roofing systems that would not only meet and
fulfil homeowners' needs, but also exceed their expectations,
Wendland's Styal system
was the obvious choice
More
Here:
Glasgow-based
Thermashield Insulation has
completed the final phase of Linstone Housing Association’s
window refurbishment programme, with the fabrication and installation
of more than 750 Sheerframe windows, plus doors at certain properties
More
Here:
The
'Cologne Triangle' by architects Gatermann
+ Schossig is a striking yet slender 103 square metre
(338 square feet) tall office tower wrapped in glass that seems
to defy traditional laws of aerodynamics and transparency
More
Here:
Smiths,
a brand new contemporary 4 star hotel in Gretna Green has Synseal's
Legend70 windows and patio doors installed by Preston based Lancashire
Double Glazing
More
Here:
Bringing
light into the interior of a historic stately home recognised
as one of a hundred endangered sites of significance worldwide,
the Rooflight Company once
again proves its conservation credentials in the restoration of
Stowe House
More
Here:
Beaufort's
new Advanced aluminium system has met the aesthetic and performance
demands of a hilltop conservatory in the heart of the Cotswolds
More
Here:
Eric
Gale has joined Profile 22
as specification manager for the North of England
More
Here:
Becky
Gibbs has joined Cheltenham-based door panel manufacturer Portal
Products to enhance its customer service and administration
team
More
Here:
A
new position has been created for Jerry Brookes as Synseal's
Commercial Sales Development Manager
More
Here:
Synseal
newcomer Simon Walker is looking forward to his role as Area
Sales Manager for East England
More
Here:
Norvik
PVCu Window Systems Ltd has signed new PR & Marketing
Manager, Nick Hibberd
More
Here:
Shepley Window Systems has
appointed John Williams as Commercial Manager to spearhead the
Group's entry into the commercial market
More
Here:
Duraflex
is strengthening its penetration of the commercial market with
a new addition to its commercial sales team, Mike Maltby
More
Here:
Now
specifiers and contractors can access all the latest
information on CGI's comprehensive
range of fire and security glasses at the click of a
mouse
More
Here:
Wendland
Roof Solutions has introduced a new online
service for its network of fabricators and installers
More
Here:
Daedalian
Glass, the UK designer and manufacturer of
architectural glass projects, has expanded its website
content with an electronic newsletter
More
Here:
The
hardware group of the DHF
has published three technical specifications which set
out the standards for the products. The technical specifications
are available on the DHF website
More
Here
EN 1279 'Glass in buildings - insulating glass units'
has finally been posted in the Official Journal
of the European Union (OJ). This means that, from
next month, IGU manufacturers will be able to CE
mark their units - and by March 2007 all units must
comply with the Construction Products Directive
(CPD). And, said Adam Osborn of Notified Body BM
TRADA Certification, CE marking is the
most effective way to prove compliance
More
Here:
Palram
honoured the true spirit of Christmas this year helping
the needy and the vulnerable, by offering free building
materials desperately needed by the Crisis Open Christmas
More
Here:
KAT
UK,
the supplier of patio doors and vertical sliding sash
windows, donated £3,735.20 during 2005 to Care for
the Wild International (CWI) to aid the charity's work
in protecting wild tigers
More
Here:
One
company which has pre-empted the 'green' revolution is FSG
Technologies. It is installing the Mustang® continuous
aluminium guttering system, supplied by
Aluminium Roofline Products, on 'eco-friendly'
properties built by Paul Newman Homes.
More
Here:
Clean
PVC regrind from recycling of PVC window profiles is a valuable
raw material, that can be used again for the production of
PVC windows. But contamination such as by rubber from seals,
polyamide, plasticised PVC, etc are problematic. The separation
process used by hamos GmbH
in Penzberg works however entirely automatically, i.e. without
manual pre-sorting.
More
Here:
EU
policymakers, social partners and leading safety and health
experts met on 12th December 2005 in Bilbao, Spain, to see
how to better protect European workers from noise and to award
those organisations that have already managed to implement
effective solutions
More
Here:
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Is
'The Armstrongs' Bad for the Trade?
After
the second edition of The Armstrongs on BBC2 this week, and our
subsequent coverage, there have been various rumblings across the trade
about how much damage this is doing to the reputation of the industry.
This is what the intrepid pair - who run 'Coventry's third largest conservatory
company' (and who sell DIY conservatories for under £2500) - had
to say on their blog, (while admitting that John Armstrong was drunk
when he updated it):
'The double glazing industry apparently is upset because with the
Armstrongs going on television, their self imposed TV critic say's it
was a chance for the industry to get the recognition it deserves...
Hello Profile 22, the series is called the Armstrongs, it's about us
(and it's obvious you don't like us but we don't care about that), not
about the industry. They don't like the fact that we have driven down
prices in the industry and are griping about the fact that we have been
responsible for eroding the profit's [sic] in an industry in crisis....
Hello, you lot may be in crisis but our business is booming thanks you
very much: our customers can recognise down to earth, honest people
who offer the best value conservatory on the market.'
Profile 22 puts Customers 'Ahead of the Game'
Representatives
from over 100 fabricators and installers attended a recent Profile
22 seminar to hear about forthcoming revisions in the building
regulations.
[More
on this Event]
Masterframe
at Ecobuild
Masterframe
Windows Ltd
promoted the Window Energy Rating at construction exhibition Ecobuild
in Earls Court 2, London, on 22-23 February.
[More
on this Event]
British
Rooflight will 'Steel' the Show
A
new British made rooflight 'Lumen'
is being launched at this year's National Homebuilding and Renovating
Show (2nd - 5th March 2006, NEC Birmingham).
[More
on this Event]
Dorluxe
Back at Homebuilding Show
Having
enjoyed success at the Homebuilding & Renovating show at London's
Excel last year - Plastmo fabricator, Dorluxe
(the specialist stable door manufacturer) is increasing the size of
its exhibition stand.
[More
on this Event]
Open
Days at GTI, 5th-8th March
'GTI Kombimatec is not going to
Glassex for the first time in 22 years. We feel we can offer our customers
and partners a better experience of seeing window machinery work and
have a go at making real windows themselves,’ says the company.
[More
on this Event]
Industry
Wide Seminar Set for May 10th 2006
Keeping
up to date with rapidly changing energy efficiency issues and environmental
legislation is of paramount importance to everyone in the window and
glass markets. Edgetech UK and
other industry experts are holding a free one day seminar on May 10th
at Coventry football team's home ground the Ricoh Arena.
[More
on this Event]
Glassex
’06: 'The Most Diverse for Years'
Glassex has long been regarded as the barometer of the glass and glazing
industry, with the event in recent years of course more closely representing
windows, doors and conservatories.
[More
on this Event]
Get
'Six Appeal' at G06!
Make Friday 15 September a night to remember - the date for the G06
Awards Presentation, the industry's most sparkling event, has
been announced.
[More
on this Event]
Proskills
Apprenticeship And HR Events
Proskills,
the Sector Skills Council with responsibility for the Glass and Glazing
industries, in partnership with The Glass and Glazing Federation,
British Glass and the Learning and Skills Council, is holding three,
free of charge, Glass Industry launch workshops for Training and HR
staff.
[More
on this Event]
Henkel
Joins List of Interbuild Newcomers
Henkel
is among the key names on a growing list of 63 companies set to make
their first appearance as exhibitors at Interbuild 2006 the
UK's premier building and construction show (NEC, April 23-27).
[More
on this Event]
Exhibition
Calendar
Go
Here:
for upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world.
UPDATED!!
Comar
Architectural Aluminium Systems
has announced that its thermally efficient Comar 5 P.i. Reversible
Pivot Window exceeds the requirements of the BS 6375 Part 1: 1989
Classification for Weather Tightness.
More
Here:
GU
Ferco's
new G4 range of Europa security multi-point locks has been awarded
(British Board of Agrement) BBA No: 2569 approval.
More
Here:
Just over a year since it was set up, Frameline
Ltd on Merseyside has been awarded BS 7950 and BS 7412
accreditation for its PVC-U windows fabricated from the Duraflex
Diamond Suite.
More
Here:
A
recent convert to the Duraflex
PVC-U system, Select Window and Door Systems in Maldon has just
been awarded Secured by Design accreditation for both its Bevelled
and Featured range fabricated from the Duraflex Diamond Suite.
More
Here:
'A
company's staff is its greatest asset,’ says Adrian Locker,
Newstead Trade Frames' Managing
Director, ‘which is why we were recently awarded the prestigious
Investor in People standard.
More
Here:
Wexford-based
Edgetech customer Senator
Windows Ltd is the first manufacturer in Southern Ireland
to achieve a BFRC C rating on its casement windows.
More
Here:
When
Steve Simpson of Tudor Glass in Bury takes a break from his
day job, he is still surrounded by reminders of the Pilkington
product range he works with on a daily basis. A keen and successful
amateur rally driver, Steve's car is now emblazoned with the
logo of Pilkington Activ™
More
Here:
The
importance of an issue can be gauged by the amount of air-time
it receives. Concern for the environment is continuing to rise
and with it, so is the number of TV programmes showing how best
to be eco-friendly. Aluminium Roofline
Products is appearing in one such show - 'The House
That Dick Built'.
More
Here:
Britain's
ever growing lorry-spotting cult has a new challenge this month
with a unique set of liveries to watch out for. This follows
the introduction by the Yorkshire-based Style
Group of a fleet of six new articulated vehicles
worth almost £1/2 million with exceptionally lively and
easily recognisable star-studded livery.
More
Here:
Approved
Swish Installer Barry Gwinnett
Building & Joinery Services has made good a botched roofline
installation that featured on the BBC1 consumer watchdog programme
Rogue Traders.
More
Here:
As Spring approaches, Ultraframe
is helping its customers prepare for their busiest time of year
by providing installers with the tools to maximise their marketing
campaigns.
More
here:
North Western Lead
has produced a brochure with 48 photographs of decorative glass
panels: 24 with lead and film and 24 featuring Decra Bevels. NWL
trade customers can have their own logo, their own name and address,
plus full contact details professionally overprinted on the brochure
for a nominal fee.
More
here:
Bohle
has launched the latest version of its huge and highly comprehensive
catalogue of everything the glass and glazing industry could ever
need.
More
here:
A
new consultation that aims to provide the Government with a framework
to guide future progress in the construction industry was launched
on 2nd February by the Rt. Hon Alun Michael, Minister of State
for Industry and the Regions. The draft Strategy
for Sustainable Construction Report 2006 consultation
will seek views from key construction stakeholders on the direction
they think the industry should take with a view to developing
and maintaining a more sustainable future.
More
here:
The
team from Rehau's London office
has just completed its 40th CPD seminar since the office was opened
at the Building Centre one year ago this month.
More
Here:
Part L and J (Scotland) have affected Roof Window specifications, with particular emphasis on thermal transmissions and installation systems. Fakro Roof Windows has a pro-active Research and Development section
More here:
PART L ARCHIVE
The
exhibition duo HOLZ-HANDWERK and
fensterbau/frontale takes place
again in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 22-25 March 2006. The
combined trade fairs with over 1,200 exhibitors and well over 90,000
trade visitors will again be a unique industry platform and the meeting-place
for the industries concerned in 2006.
[More
on this Event]
A
new exhibition plant is growing out of the desert sand: More than
2,800 trade visitors and conference participants attended the first
Intelligent Building Middle East
(IBME).
[More
on this Event]
Reed
Exhibitions plans to hold the next Interplas
on 15-18 May 2007. This is five months before K, the world’s
largest plastics event that takes place every three years in Düsseldorf,
Germany. The next Interplas was originally due to run on 7-9 October
2008.
[More
on this Event]
More leading companies are following the example of Eleco and Akzo
Nobel in backing a concerted push by TRADA, the Timber Research &
Development Association, to raise the profile of timber at Interbuild
2006.
[More
on this Event]
MosBuild+ 2005 Exhibition was
the biggest Windows & Doors exhibition ever to be held in Russia.
The event hosted over 300 Exhibitors and 40,000 visitors over the
four day International Event. The 2006 show will be 4-7th April.
[More
on this Event]
GPD
China will once again be held in conjunction with China
Glass 2006 in Beijing, China. This time, it will be held
just before China Glass. The venue will be announced later.
[More
on this Event]
Exhibition
Calendar
Go
Here:
for upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world.
UPDATED!!
The
Eden Project's new education and resource facility has bespoke
PowerGlaz building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glass/glass
laminates manufactured by Romag
More
Here:
Malcolm
Wicks recently outlined his vision for micro wind turbines,
solar panels and other microgeneration technologies at the launch
of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College in London
More
Here:
There
was even more fun and frolics from The Armstrongs this week, as reported
by our regular 'TV Critic' slot (see top left hand column or click here,
with John and Ann deciding to pull themselves out of a sales rut by exporting
to France. This was not without its mishaps of course: dropping into the
factory before setting off, the Armstrongs decided to collide with one
of their own delivery trucks, ripping off the rear wing of their Jag in
the process. The driver of the Ufit truck resigned in disgust at the way
he was spoken to, at which point Ann uttered the immortal line: 'We don't
need that w**ker, we've got enough w**kers working for us already'.
Given that there are pockets of the industry which still behave like The Armstrongs it is timely to be reminded that the GGF is an approved scheme operator for TrustMark and can sign up firms that meet its standards. The GGF is the glazing industry's driving force behind TrustMark and was one of the first approved scheme operators that received a licence last October. We feature a short statement from them below about who is an approved scheme operator, and more importantly, who is NOT!
• More news from Glassex, meanwhile: Day 2 appears to be on a par with last year in terms of visitor numbers, which organiser EMAP is delighted with given the state of the market. Rehau launched its Dimension conservatory roof, and the Supreme winner of the Glassex Conservatory Challenge - Franklin Conservatories - was announced.
PVCu
Direct the Small Business Supplier for 2006
PVCu
Direct Ltd has been successfully supplying the trade
throughout the UK for many years now and we feel that
2006 will be another growth year for us. The reason
for this is that the company's market will continue
to be the small to medium size customers ie one man
bands to small retailers, the guys who need continuous
service and support, the ones the big boys have not
been interested in for many years now.
Read
The Rest Here:
GLASSEX 2006
Our Glassex Preview is here should you still wish to visit the show (it closes Wednesday at 4pm). We also have exclusive details of some of the winners of the Glassex Conservatory Design Competition, full editorial on the stand presentations of over 70 companies, the fully updated Exhibitor List (with over 20 new exhibitors listed) full details on the excellent Seminar Programme, which has been changed in the past few weeks.
Opening
the Door to Performance
Without Compromise
A
‘third generation’
of thermoset doors
developed using
state-of-art materials
and technology
originally pioneered
for the high specification
automotive and
aviation industries
is bringing to
the market an
option that the
manufacturer claims
overcomes the
majority of problems
being experienced
with existing
composite doors.
[More
on this Product]
Product of
the Week Archive
here
Total
Fade to Grey
PVC-U
windows in two shades
of grey were supplied
by Liverpool-based
trade fabricator
Total
Glass and
installed by Cheshire
Windows to meet the
specific design requirements
of a new student accommodation
complex in the city
centre.
[More
on this Project]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Glassex
Visitors
‘cue’
to
Meet
the
New
Face
of
Network
VEKA
Six
times
World
Snooker
Champion
Steve
Davis
proved
to
be
the
hardest
worker
at
Glassex
with
a
three-hour
marathon
of
almost
non-stop
autographs
and
handshakes.
[More
on
this
Story]
Want
to
join
TrustMark?
GGF
is
an
approved
scheme
operator
for
TrustMark
and
can
sign
up
firms
that
meet
its
standards.GGF
is
the
glazing
industry's
driving
force
behind
TrustMark
and
was
one
of
the
first
approved
scheme
operators
that
received
a
licence
last
October.
[More
on
this
Story]
ELECON
Acquires
Foilcraft
in
£2
Million
Expansion
Plan
Bolton-based
Chartered
Accountants
Cowgill
Holloway
has
advised
the
ELECON
Group
on
its
acquisition
of
Foilcraft
for
an
undisclosed
sum.
The
ELECON
Group
produces
accessories
for
conservatories,
windows
and
doors,
supplying
its
products
to
major
conservatory
manufacturers.
ELECON’s
products
are
used
in
nearly
25
per
cent
of
all
UK
conservatories
installed,
the
company
says.
[More
on
this
Story]
Nine
of
the
First
Twelve
A
to
C
Ratings
used
Super
Spacer®
12
window
companies
have
achieved
C
or
higher
ratings,
nine
of
them
using
warm
edge
technology
Super
Spacer®
from
Edgetech
I.G.
Inc.
at
the
time
of
writing.
Congratulations
are
due
to
all,
and
especially
to
the
three
firms
who
have
crashed
through
the
energy
savings
barrier
with
coveted
'A'
ratings.
[More
on
this
Story]
Pilkington
Helps
to
Achieve
'A'
Grade
Products
from
Pilkington
have
been
instrumental
in
creating
an
industry
first.
With
the
industry
adopting
Window
Energy
Ratings
(WERs),
the
British
Fenestration
Rating
Council
(BFRC)
has
passed
the
first
ever
'A'
rated
window,
an
achievement
that
had
not
been
expected
for
several
years.
[More
on
this
Story]
FMB
and
K2
in
Search
for
Britain's
Best
Conservatory
Installer
The
Federation
of
Master
Builders
(FMB)
has
launched
its
annual
search
to
find
the
best
builders
and
conservatory
installers
in
Britain,
with
the
overall
winner
set
to
receive
a
brand
new
Nissan
Light
Commercial
Vehicle
of
their
choice.
[More
on
this
Story]
Towards
Greater
Profits
with
Total
Glass
Recognising
the
continuing
trend
towards
outsourcing
by
companies
which
cease
to
manufacture,
trade
fabricator
Total
Glass
has
launched
a
comprehensive
guide
for
firms
planning
to
go